Peter j



P. J. OWENS.

MEGHANIGAL TOY FOR CHILDREN.

No. s Patented Apr. 27, 1886.

aaq b WITNESSES INVENTOR JB .2 1 yaw $45 l i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PETER J. OWENS, OF'NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO MARY JANE OVENS, OF SAME PLACE.

MECHANICAL TOY FOR' CHILDREN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 340,728, dated April 27, 1886.

Application filed January 4, 1886.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PETER J. OWENS, of the city, county, and State of New Yorlghave invented a new and Improved Mechanical Toy for Children, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention consists, first, in a rectan gular tray mounted at asuitable incline upon a stander support, and hinged thereto so as to oscillate from side to side, and provided with a series of hinged strips secured to either edge of the tray, so that a ball starting from the bottom will ascend by traversing the hinged strips successively, one after another, until it reaches the top of the tray, and will then be returned to the bottom thereof through apassage-way or channel,and again ascend the tray by traversing the strips as before; second, in a mechanical toy constructed and operating substantially as herein described and shown, consisting of a rectangular oscillating tray, hinged strips secured to and arranged alternately thereon,by whicha ball is carried from the bottom to the top of the tray, the returnchannel by which a ball is conducted from the top of the tray, after leaving the strips, to the bottom thereof, to again ascend, as set forth; third, in a mechanical toy consisting of an oscillating tray provided with hinged strips secured thereto,and a return-channel by which a ball may be conducted from the top to the bottom of the tray, and the driving mechanism, hereinafter described, by which the tray is operated a length of time, substantially as herein described.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 represents a view in perspective of my ascending hall toy complete, showing one ball ascending and a second ball at the bottom of the tray commencing the ascent. Fig. 2 represents a central section through the tray, showing two openings, one at the top and one at the lower end of the tray, through which a ball may pass from the tray into a channel at the top, to be returned to the bottom and again enter the tray to ascend as before. Fig. 2 also shows a drum secured to an upright and provided with a weight and crank by Serial No. 187,553. (No model.)

which the tray may be operated for a length of time. Fig. 3 represents a cross section through the tray, with the driving mechanism in elevation and a fragment of asupporting- 5 post also in elevation.

. A in the accompanying drawings represents a rectangular tray, constructed of any suitable material, mounted upon and hinged in an inclined position to the ends of upright 6 supports B 13, secured to a platform, C, so as to oscillate from side to side a certain fixed distance in each direction. On the inner sur faces of the sides of this inclined tray A are hinged thin strips D, of wood or other suit- 6 able material, alternating and of the proper length,so as to form a series of inclined planes, over which a ball, E, may traverse by the oscillating movement of the tray, and, passing from strip to strip, will ascend from the bot- 7c tom to the top of the tray. In this illustration a ball E is represented as having ascended the tray Apart way and is traversing the strip F, and in its movement lifts the free end of the next succeeding strip,G,and in passing beyond its end to rest against the side of the tray the end of the strip G will drop of its own gravity upon the strip F, and thus present a succeeding incline inan opposite direction, over which the ball will roll when the tray is turned back or oscillated in an opposite direction. This tray A is hinged at H to the upper ends of two uprights, B, in an inclined positiomas shown in Figs. 1 and 2, so that the ballFwill readily roll over the inclined strips D,passing 8 5 from one to another, when the tray is oscillated or rocked back and forth, as shown. On the lower side of this tray A is secured a return channel or tube, I, through which the ball is conducted from the upper to the lower end of 0 the tray, and presents itself to again ascend the tray over the inclined strips D,as described. Centrally in the bottom of the tray, at its upper end, is an opening, J, through which the ball E may pass to enter the return-channel I. A corresponding opening'at the lower end of the tray is formed, which is provided with an ordinary clap-valve, K, through which opening the ball may pass and again enter the tray, and be retained therein to ascend the tray over :00 the inclined strips D, as before, and so on,the ball E may ascend the tray and be returned to repeat its ascent at pleasure. If preferred,the return-channel I may be placed at one side of the tray instead of beneath it, in which construction the openings to admit the passage of the ball from the tray to the return channel would be in the edge of the tray.

In order that this tray A may be operated a length of time similar to a clock, a drum L, secured to one of the uprights B, cord 0, and weight M are provided, the drum having a wrist-pin, 1?, connected to a pitman, R, pivoted at its upper end to the lower side of the tray, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. By this simple mechanical contrivance the cord may be wound upon the drum L by a crank/Land the weight M being sufficient to counterbalance the tray A, an oscillating movement will be produced by the rotation of the drum,and the tray will move back and forth a fixed distance sufficient to roll the ball over the inclined strips D from one to another to ascend from the bottom to the top.

Cog-gearing or a series of pulleys andbelts may be substituted for the mechanism herein described to oscillate the tray A,if preferred, and multipliedso as to drive the ball several times over the inclined tray,if desired.

In the accompanying drawings I have represented a figure mounted upon a platform in the act of operating the tray to roll the ball over the inclined strips. A figure may also be placed at the opposite or lower end of the tray to add to the attractiveness of the toy. In this construction the thin strips D are secured to the sides of the tray by strips of cloth N, one end being glued to the sides of the tray and the opposite ends glued to the strips, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2,which forms a cheap and durable flexible connection to serve as a hinge.

To add to the interest of the toy,several balls may be employed, following each other over the inclined strips and through the returnchannels to again make the ascent; and to announce the return of the balls from the ascent, a bell may be attached to the tray to be struck by the return-balls, if desired.

In order that the tray A may be operated with the least possible expenditure of power when driven by the crank mechanism, a weight, S, is secured to the lower side of the tray,so as to counterbalance the weight of the tray and the balls traversing therein,as shown in sectional View, Fig. 2.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A mechanical toy constructed and operating substantially as herein described, consisting of an oscillating tray, A, provided with hinged inclined strips D and a returnchannel, I, as set forth.

2. In a mechanical toy constructed and operating substantially as herein described and shown, in combination with the oscillating inc'lined tray A, the strips D, hinged to the opposite sides of the tray, wit-h their opposite free ends F resting upon each other, respectively,with suiiicient space between their free ends and the sides of the tray to permit aball to pass from one strip to another to ascend the tray, as set forth.

3. A mechanical toy consisting of the oscillating inclined tray A and strips D, secured alternately to the opposite sides of said tray by hinges or flexible connections,respectively, so that a ball may pass from strip to strip in ascending the inclined tray, in combination with the driving mechanism, substantially as herein described and shown.

PETER J. OW'ENS.

Vitnesses:

EDGAR Tarn, EDWARD M. CLARK. 

